Straight edge with means for attaching to a work piece



April 16, 1963 H. o. SKRIPSKY 3,085,343

STRAIGHT EDGE WITH MEANS FOR ATTACHING TO A WORK PIECE Filed 001;. 19, 1959 INVENTOR. #4208 0 Smwpsx 1 BY W A TTOR/VE) United States Patent 07 3,085,343 STRAIGHT EDGE WITH MEANS FOR ATTACHING TO A WORK PIECE Harold 0. Skripsky, 31 24th Ave. SW., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Filed Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,129 4 Claims. ((11. 33-80) This invention relates in general to straight edges and in particular to an improved measuring means.

Oftentimes in carpentry and other fields it is necessary to measure and cut materials. For example, often an eight foot by four foot sheet of plywood must be cut into various size pieces. The present invention consists of a straight edge that can be simply and quickly attached to an article.

Another object of this invention is to provide a straight edge that is usable to measure a piece to be cut.

Further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and claims when read in view of the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the straight edge of this invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed view of one end of the straight edge from the under side;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the clamping means of this invention; and,

,FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the clamp at the second end of the straight edge.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a pair of saw horses and 11 upon which rests a sheet 12 of plywood, for example, which is to be cut.

The straight edge 13 of this invention is attached to the sheet of plywood. The top edge of the straight edge has a raised center 14 and slanting sides 16-and 17. The edges 18 and 19 are formed so as to provide good straight edges.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the underside of the straight edge has a first fixed clamp 21 and a second movable clamp 22.

The underside of the straight edge is formed with a roove 23 in which the clamps 21 and 22 are mounted. Fixed clamp 21 is shown in detail in FIGURE 4. It comprises a block 24 mounted on a plate 26. The plate 26 may be attached to the straight edge by set screws 27. Optional holes are formed in the straight edge so that it may be set at different locations along the underedge of the straight edge. However, the clamp 21 will normally attach at a standard position.

The block 24 has one end which is formed with a V- shaped end and is slanted relative to the plate 26. The other end is at right angles to the plate 26.

As shown in FIGURE 2 a crescent shaped member 32 is formed with a groove 33 and is adjnstably attached to block 24 by a set screw 34.

The movable clamp 22 is formed with a block 36 which has one end 37 formed with a V-shaped groove 38 which slants relative to a base plate 39. The block 36 is slidably attached to a shaft 41 and a spring 42 is mounted about the shaft between the block and a plate 43. A pair of pins 44 and 46 extend upwardly from plate 43. A locking member 47 is formed with a slot 48 through which pins 44 and 46 loosely extend. A spring 49 is mounted on pin 46 above member 47. The V-shaped groove 38 allows the workpiece to positively be gripped by the straight edge.

A washer 50 is mounted between plate 43 and the underside of member 47. A portion '51 of member 47 is formed at a right angle and a handle 52 is attached thereto. Plate 39 fits into groove 23. A pair of longitudinal strips 54 are attached to the straight edge at either side of the groove 23 and their edges extend partially into the groove to hold the base plate 39 in the groove.

Patented Apr. 16, 1963.

The strips 54 areformed with holes 55 into which locking fingers or extensions 53 of the locking member 47 may extend.

A power saw 59 is shown in use with the straight edge in FIGURE 1. Measuring indicia 62 is printed along each edge of the straight edge.

In use, the straight edge is clamped to a piece to be cut by engaging block 21 with one side of the piece and by sliding the member 22 until the block 36 tightly engages the other side of the piece to be cut. The shaft 41 is firmly attached to block 43 but is slidably attached to block 36. However, block 36 will not fall ofi of shaft 41 completely.

The fingers 53 are inserted into holes 55 of strip 54 so that blocks 36 and 24 tightly clamp the piece to be cut.

If desired the indicia in combination with the crescent shaped member 32 may be used to mark the position of placement of the straight edge by placing the straight edge at right angles to the proposed cut and marking the desired distance along indicia 62. The straight edge may then be placed at the marked position. The indicia starts at zero a distance away from the crescent member 32, equal to the width of the saw base 61 to the saw blade. The crescent member engages the edge of a piece to be measured and measurements may be made from the edge of the workpiece along the straight edge. For example, if it is desired to cut off a two foot strip, the workpiece may be engaged by the straight edge with crescent member against an edge and a mark at two foot on indicia of the straight can be made. If the straight edge is then turned and attached to the workpiece at the mark so made, a saw will cut off two feet when moved along the straight edge.

In other words the indicia allows measurements to be made which compensate for the width of the saw base to the saw blade.

To remove the straight edge, the handle 52 is moved to pivot the fingers 53 upwardly so that the locking bar may be withdrawn. The member 47 will pivot on washer 50 to allow the fingers 53 to be inserted or removed from openings 55.

It is seen that this invention provides an improved straight edge for marking and cutting material. Although it has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made which are within the full intended scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A straight edge comprising a longitudinal member having one edge straight to serve as a straight edge, and formed with a groove in its under side, a first block attached to the under side of the straight edge adjacent one end thereof, a pair of strips formed with a plurality of holes attached to the underside of the longitudinal member and with their edges extending partly into the groove, a locking member comprising a plate receivable in the groove and held therein by the edges of the strips, a block attached to the plate, and a locking means mounted to the plate and selectively attachable to the strips.

2. A straight edge comprising a longitudinal member having one edge straight to form a straight edge and formed with a groove, a first block attached to the under side of the longitudinal member adjacent one end thereof, a pair of strips attached to the underside of the longitudinal member and extending partially into the groove, a plate slidably received in the groove and prevented from coming out by the strips, said strips formed with a plurality of slots, a shaft attached to said plate, a second block attached to said shaft, a spring mounted about said shaft, a pin extending from said plate, a locking memher formed with a slot receivable over said pin, a handle attached to the locking member, and a pair of locking fingers attached to the locking member and receivable in the slots formed in the strips.

3. In apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said blocks are formed with tapered ends to clamp the straight edge to a workpiece.

4. In apparatus according to claim 2 a crescent shaped member attachable to the first block and extending along the straight'edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Conti June 5, 1928 Left'el Aug. 10, 1943 King June 28, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 3, 1955 Great Britain 1897 Australia July 25, 1928 

1. A STRAIGHT EDGE COMPRISING A LONGITUDINAL MEMBER HAVING ONE EDGE STRAIGHT TO SERVE AS A STRAIGHT EDGE, AND FORMED WITH A GROOVE IN ITS UNDER SIDE, A FIRST BLOCK ATTACHED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE STRAIGHT EDGE ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, A PAIR OF STRIPS FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF HOLES ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBER AND WITH THEIR EDGES EXTENDING PARTLY INTO THE GROOVE, A LOCKING MEMBER COMPRISING A PLATE RECEIVABLE IN THE GROOVE AND HELD THEREIN BY THE EDGES OF THE STRIPS, A BLOCK ATTACHED TO THE PLATE, AND A LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED TO THE PLATE AND SELECTIVELY ATTACHABLE TO THE STRIPS. 